UnMasked Pt. 3

Psalm 75:1-10 (KJV)

1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks:

For that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

2 ||When I shall receive the congregation

I will judge uprightly.

3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved:

I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly:

And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

5 Lift not up your horn on high:

Speak not with a stiff neck.

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east,

Nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge:

He putteth down one, and setteth up another.

8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red;

It is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same:

But the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

9 But I will declare for ever;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off;

The Passion Translation (Psalm 75)

1 God, our hearts spill over with praise to you! We overflow with thanks, for your name is the “Near One.” All we want to talk about is your wonderful works! And we hear your reply:

2 “When the time is ripe I will arise, and I will judge the world with perfect righteousness.

3 Though I have set the earth firmly on its pillars, I will shake it until it totters and everyone’s hearts will tremble.” Pause in his presence.

4 God warns the proud, “Stop your arrogant boasting!” And he warns the wicked, “Don’t think for a moment you can resist me!

5 Why would you speak with such stubborn pride? Don’t you dare raise your fist against me!”

6–7 This I know:the favor that brings promotion and power doesn’t come from anywhere on earth, for no one exalts a person but God, the true judge of all. He alone determines where favor rests. He anoints one for greatness and brings another down to his knees.

8 A foaming cup filled with judgment mixed with fury is in the hands of the Lord Jehovah, full to the brim and ready to run over.He filled it up for the wicked and they will drink it down to the very last drop!

9 But I will proclaim the victory of the God of Jacob.My melodies of praise will make him known.

10 My praises will break the powers of wickedness while the righteous will be promoted and become powerful!

The Pressure Of Promotion

UnMasking The Spirit Of Korah

We began this summer by declaring, these 90 days will be supernatural elevation and healthy transitions.

This text is a psalm of Asaph. It is to the choirmaster. In my words, the name of the song is called: Do Not Destroy. It will make sense a little later in the study.

There’s not a lot of theological study on the actual word promotion. However; the word exalt is a word that is used theologically throughout the old and new testament.

We see the word exalt being used in:

Matthew 23:12 “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

I Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”

Exalt - An increase in rank or importance. Can include a person being made a ruler or a human becoming a supernatural being.

A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels (Exaltation)

EXALTATION.—1. The general sentiment that the lowly in heart alone receive the true exaltation, is exceedingly prominent in both the Old and New Testaments. The life of Christ was throughout one of self-humbling, but He knew prophetically that it would end in the highest exaltation. In the Song of Mary at the Annunciation this principle of Divine procedure is stated: ‘He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree’ (Lk 1:52). In Christ’s parable of the Wedding Feast He insists on this principle, as against the self-seeking and pride of the scribes and Pharisees, who love the chief seats in the synagogue, and the foremost places at feasts. It is better to take the lowest room, and wait till the host shall give their proper place to one’s virtue and dignity, by saying, ‘Friend, come up higher’ (Lk 14:10). The behaviour of a Christian among his fellows should have regard to this principle. He is not to be forward to lay claim to that which may even be his right (cf. Mt 23:12 || Lk 14:11, 18:14).2. One of the clearest words of Jesus in regard to His own exaltation is Jn 12:32. Some Greeks came desiring to see Him. Our Lord seeing in this desire of theirs something prophetic of the future ingathering of the Gentiles into His kingdom, opened up His heart to His disciples as to the way in which He hoped to conquer the hearts of men. He made somewhat enigmatic reference to His death. He knew that the hour had almost come for the suffering of the lowly Son of Man. But it is necessary that the seed which is to produce a great harvest must first die. So it is a law of the Kingdom of God that life in this world must be sacrificed, if need be, that life eternal may be gained as a permanent possession. After the Saviour’s life of service, the due reward will be honour from God. When the heavenly voice spoke, the Saviour was consoled and uplifted by the thought that He would cast out the prince of this world, and be lifted up (ὑψωθῶ) as a victorious conqueror. It was a prediction of His final triumph over evil, and His eternal reign over all men. The outwardly shameful death of the cross would be His true exaltation as the world’s Saviour. By the identification of outward events with their inward meaning, He advances men’s thoughts to the idea of His exaltation to heaven as the victorious One. This anticipation of Jesus is the starting-point for the Church’s fully developed doctrine of the Exaltation. ‘He rose again from the dead on the third day, He ascended up into heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of God the Father, He shall come to judge the world at the last day.’ After the predictions of His suffering, He always spoke of His future glory. He would rise again from the dead (Mt 16:21). ‘In the regeneration the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory’ (19:28). ‘The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds’ (16:27). In the sayings in the Gospel of John there are many lofty statements as to His heavenly glory.

“Exalt” is most often used to translate Heb. rûm, “be high, exalted, rise.” It is used with reference to:

· Humans exalting God.

· God exalting humans

· Humans exalting themselves

Other words used are: gāḇah, “be high, lofty, tall,” used positively of God being:

· Exalted (Isa. 5:16),

· Exalting kings (Job 36:7)

· Admonishing humility among men.

The Truth About Elevation (Promotion): This is practical lessons from an airplane.

· Be prepared for promotion.

NOTE: There’s a difference in people who want titles and attention and those who have been called by God for the assignments.

NOTE: People who only want the titles and attention are more invested in showing off. (When is my time to perform)

People who are called by God for the assignment are into showing up. (It’s time for me to learn, mature, become and serve)

· Promotion is for the prepared.

NOTE: Opportunity is only opportunity to those who are prepared.

It’s not an opportunity for you if you are not prepared: spiritually, emotionally, mentally, financially, relationally and academically. Because you didn’t humble yourself to prepare, the opportunity will only lead to self-destruction.

When God elevates you, you must understand that there will be turbulence as you are transitioning through the atmopheric shifting.

Here’s a few points about Turbulence:

· Turbulence is a sure sign of elevation. Seasons of elevation require greater levels of focus and consecration.

It’s not always the devil causing trouble. Turbulence is a sign that you are going to a higher atmosphere and different climate.

· Turbulence is normal for people who live / walk in high places.

Stop acting like you’ve never been nowhere. In other words, this isn’t the first time you’ve felt shaking in your life.

· Don’t be afraid to go to higher places due to the fear of things getting a little rocky. Rocky is normal with atmosphere changes.

· Sometimes God leaves us in turbulent situations until He can get our attention enough where we make a decision to obey and submit our lives to Him and His authority.

God will keep you uncomfortable for a long as it takes to get you to submit and obey His will and purpose for your life. God isn’t into those kind of feelings. God feels our infirmities and He knows, these feelings about going to higher heights are nothing more than fear of leaving the familiar. God will keep you uncomfortable until you make a REAL commitment and then you will realize, discomfort is a way a life that comes along with the purpose God has for your life.

· The Holy Spirit is designed to handle the rocky places of our lives.

Get to know the pilot. You’re only on the plane, you’re not flying the plane. We trust more pilots that we never get to meet on actual plans to get us through turbulence more than we do the pilot of our souls, whom we claim we know, to get us through the shaky transitions of our lives.

(Look at somebody and tell them) CHILL…YOU GONE GET THERE!

· It’s uncomfortable but it’s normal. Stay focus.

· Stay focused on the revelation of your elevation. There’s purpose in this shaking.

If you do not stay focused on the revelation of your elevation you’ll forget why you’re even able to feel anything moving. It’s moving because you’re moving. If you don’t stay focused you will jump out of the transition while you’re on your way, resulting in you never getting to your destination.

Nobody jumps out of a shaking plane due to turbulence. They sit, shake with the plane and trust that the pilot knows how to fly in all kinds of conditions. The pilot is skillful and knowledgeable on how to navigate through the tough times.

The pilot knows that the passengers are uncomfortable, so when things get too rough, the pilot comes on the intercom to inform us of his next move so that nobody will get nervous and lose it and want to open up an exit door and jump out or even worse, come into the cockpit expressing how angry and upset they are because there’s too much shaking going on.

Here’s the bonus for this point: Before the pilot comes over the intercom, He is talking to the control tower to get information about what’s happening on the ground while He is flying in the air. Because He knows, that just like he went up, he must come down and he understands that the conditions above the clouds may not be the same as the conditions on the ground.

(Somebody say:) Communication

· Stay focused on where you’re going and not what you’re feeling.

· We feel every bump that we focus on. We make turbulence worse than what it really is simply because we tend to focus on the bumps and battles of the winds more than we focus on the promotion.

· The same God who had you on the ground is the same God who has you in the air. Stay focused on your destination not your aggravation.

· We tend to be ungrateful for the entire journey just because we tend to catch feelings on our way up.

· It may not seem fair. But it’s only because the majority isn’t willing to shift atmospheres. You may be the only one in your environment who understands what it’s like to feel like this and live on this level. It’s OKAY!

In other words, you may be afraid of the shaking you’re experiencing; but you should be encouraged, because you may be the only one around you that is brave enough to have the guts and courage and faith to go as high as you’re going.

· What may cause others to panic. You will have peace in.

In other words, other folks are tripping about what you are chilling in. Why? You’ve adapted an endurance and a healthy taste for healthy transitions that you already know, God is going to get you to the other side, no matter how shaky it may become.

· Gods Got YOU!!

· How you come down is just as important as how you go up.

I want to take an interesting turn here. Because we have all heard the phrase, what goes up must come down. I want to talk about the importance of coming down and it not only benefits us but also benefits others.

Moses in Exodus 19 goes up into Mount Sanai to meet God. When Moses came down from the Mountain God demonstrated himself through thunder.

Here’s what I learned through this:

Going up is for revelation

Coming down is for demonstration

· When God takes you up it’s to reveal your purpose. When you come down is when you fulfill your purpose.

Now when your time is up, it will be somebody else’s turn. You will not always be up, and for those waiting to go up, you will not always be down. Learn the timing of God. It may be your time but not your turn. In other words, your time opens the door for you to prepare, not take over. Your turn is when you get to demonstrate what you’ve been preparing for. I believe that season will be obvious to God and the one who leads you. Why? God has to have someone to pass the baton over to you.

· When you go up you have to adjust and adapt to a new level. When you come down you have to make the adjustments necessary so you can have mountain top power on the ground.

Make the adjustments. When you went up there was some shaking because of how high you were going. Adjustments had to be made and you felt them. The same thing happens when you come down. One thing I realized about the plan is this: When the plane gets ready to come down, it first seems to slow down. You can almost feel it press the breaks in mid air. What I recognized was, the plane slows down to make adjustments and get in alignment with the run way for a safe landing. The pilot knows, he can land the plane, but he’s not just responsible for landing the plane. He’s responsible for landing the plane on the runway and not the top of someone’s house.

Numbers 16:1-50 (ESV)

What is the "spirit of Korah"?

Just what did Korah do and what lessons are there for us today? ANSWER: The "spirit of Korah" refers to a negative attitude he held regarding the leadership of the children of Israel. He sought, with others, to overthrow Moses and Aaron. Korah felt he was more qualified than Moses and that he should be leading Israel. To tell you the story, following is an excerpt from "The Bible Story" published years ago by our parent church: Picking up the story in Chapter 41, REBELS CHALLENGE GOD'S GOVERNMENT" Discontentment Grows Again Not long after the Israelites left Kadesh, another wretched event took place that resulted in another great disaster. The situation developed because a state of envy existed in the minds of some of the people who wanted to be priests or who wanted certain of their friends to be priests and leaders instead of Levi's family. Foremost among such men was a man named Korah, one of Levi's great grandsons and a first cousin to Moses and Aaron. He strongly felt that he should have been chosen for a high office. In fact, he had the idea that he should be in Moses' position as head of Israel. He was joined in this ill attitude by three Reubenites, Dathan, Abiram and On. They were of the opinion that Moses was favoring his family too much, and was not properly distributing the offices of authority. These men thought all the congregation should have a voice in government. (Numbers 16:1-3.) For a long time these men had been seething with discontent and planning how they could move in to take over the priesthood for themselves. This scheme against Moses was the same as scheming against God (Numbers 26:9), but these men were desperate for power. Gradually they managed to persuade high-ranking Israelites that their cause was right. Eventually two hundred and fifty Israelite leaders agreed to join these influential, smooth-talking schemers in the hope that all would move into higher rank with greater power and more income. One morning when Israel was camping at a stopping place on the way southward, all these ambitious men gathered before Moses' tent. With Korah, their best speaker and worst schemer leading them, they came to demand of Moses that some changes be made in the priesthood. When Moses was told that a crowd of high ranking men had come to demand some changes in government, he wasn't surprised. He had sensed for weeks that this kind of trouble was brewing. Now, as he came out of his tent, he expected to see only a handful of men. He was rather startled to see more than two hundred and fifty, and he was considerably upset to recognize so many trusted men of high rank among those who now stood before him with unfriendly expressions. (Numbers 16:2.) "Why are you here?" Moses asked. Korah Wants More Authority "We are here because we believe you are taking on too much power for one man," Korah answered. "You and your priests act as though you are holier than any of the rest of us. If we are God's chosen people, then ALL of us are holy. That means that all of us have equal rights in matters of government. However, you use your authority to put men who are your friends in the best positions in government. (Verse 3.) We demand that you yield some of those offices to the congregation so we can choose our own officials."

Korah, being a good speaker, knew he could be elected to a high office if the people were allowed to choose their own leaders. What Korah really was after was complete control of all Israel. Leaders of nations have always been the objects of envy by greedy men. Seizing leadership has always been a selfish, bloody game, with the greatest losers generally turning out to be the citizens. Even Israel, God's chosen nation, wasn't free of this kind of ambitious trouble makers. Moses was shocked by this blunt demand from Korah. He could see that the men weren't just bluffing. It was plain that they were willing to go to extremes to gain what they had set out to do. Setting armed soldiers on them would only mean bloodshed. Besides, most of the Israelites would sympathize with the victims of the soldiers, since they were popular, well-known leaders, and the situation would become worse. Without even going back into the privacy of his tent, Moses knelt forward with his head to the ground and asked God for help. A few of those assembled became uncomfortable as they stood in the presence of a humble man calling on his Creator for aid. They included On, one of the Reubenites. He wanted no more of the matter, and slipped out of the scene. Other onlookers merely smiled at what they considered an attempt by Moses to gain their sympathy by appearing pitifully pious. "This is no time for a show, Moses!" Korah called out. "Stand up and explain why at least some of us shouldn't be priests in place of some of those who are now in service merely because it was your whim to put them there." Korah, a Levite, already had a high office, but he wanted an even higher office -- the priesthood that was given to Aaron. (Verses 8-11.) Moses slowly came to his feet. Those who watched him couldn't know that God had just inspired him to know what to say. Ignoring Korah, Moses addressed Dathan and Abiram. Moses Tries to Save Rebels "Before you carry this matter further, let us discuss it in my tent," Moses said, thus giving them an opportunity to separate from Korah. "There is no reason to talk with you," Dathan and Abiram replied. "We refuse to listen to your excuses for leading us from the good land of Egypt and into a desert where we are to die. Your only aim has plainly been to control the people, no matter what becomes of them." (Verses 12-14.) These untruthful charges upset Moses. He was tempted to summon soldiers to slay every rebel before him. But he knew this was not according to God's plan of dealing with them, and he controlled himself. "You have started something you will have trouble finishing," Moses declared to Korah in a voice that reached the whole crowd. "Your belief that just anyone can be in the priesthood without being ordained by God is not a true one. However, if all of you insist on trying to force your way into such offices, every one of you should be here tomorrow morning with incense and with a censer filled with hot coals. Aaron and his sons will also be here with their censers. God will make it known which ones he will choose as priests and their helpers." (Verses 4-7.) Korah smiled when he heard this. He lacked respect for God, and he felt that he had bluffed Moses into giving in to the extent that he and his followers could gain a foothold in wresting power from Moses. Rebels Challenge Moses Next morning the crowd of two hundred and fifty, plus Korah, Dathan and Abiram, appeared before the tabernacle. Every man carried a censer filled with hot coals to show his readiness to go at once into priestly service. Korah had spread the word throughout the camps that he was going to challenge Moses, and that there would be a showdown to free the people from what was wrongfully referred to as Moses' unfair leadership. As a result, a growing crowd of curious people built up behind Korah's men. Moses came out to face Korah. With him were Aaron and Aaron's sons, all of whom held censers with hot coals. The elders of Israel were also present. There were minutes of strained silence. God hadn't told Moses what to do beyond asking the men to show up with censers. Moses didn't know what would happen next, but he was certain that God would somehow make it very clear which group would be in power from then on. Suddenly there was a brilliant flash from the tabernacle, followed by a second and a third. It was plain to most that God was in the tabernacle. (Verse 19.) Some of them drew back, fearful of what might happen. Even a part of Korah's followers appeared to be ready to leave, but Korah told them to stand firm. Korah had become so rebellious that he actually doubted that God could hinder him and his men from gaining leadership of Israel, and the blinding display of light from within the tabernacle didn't move him from his ambition. Realizing that God wanted to give them some message, Moses and Aaron stepped away from the others and approached the tabernacle. "Remove yourselves and the priests and elders from these people who face you," God commanded in a voice that only the two men could hear. "I want you at a safe distance because I intend to wipe all the others out of existence!" (Verses 20-21.) Moses shuddered at this alarming remark from God. The Creator had threatened to do the same thing before, but Moses had begged him not to, and God answered Moses' prayer. There was nothing to do now but again ask God to spare the people. Moses and Aaron bowed down in fervent prayer. "Look at him!" Korah exclaimed to those about him. "He's trying again to gain the sympathy of the people by appearing pious!" On the contrary, Moses wasn't concerned at that moment what the people thought. He was concerned for their lives, and he pleaded with God not to be angry with many people because of the evil deeds of a few. (Verse 22.) God Spares the People "I shall do this much," God said. "I shall spare the congregation if you can succeed in getting the people back to their homes and away from the tents where Korah, Dathan and Abiram live. Any who go near the homes of those three men will risk losing their lives." Encouraged by this merciful statement from God, Moses sent his officers out to warn the crowd to break up and return to their tents, and not to go near the tents of Korah, Abiram and Dathan. Slowly and a bit unwillingly the people sauntered away. "You said that God would choose His priests if we would assemble with censers," Korah called out to Moses. "You have only proved to the people that you are not a man of your word, because nothing has happened. Tomorrow we shall return. The people will think the matter over, and tomorrow they will be ready to back us up in what should be done about your authority." "You should remember this in the meantime," Moses replied. "If you live till tomorrow, then you can know that I will not continue to be the leader of the Israelites." This strange remark was ignored by Korah, Dathan and Abiram, who returned to their respective homes, which were close together on the south side of the Tabernacle. (Numbers 2:10 and 3:29.) Korah felt that he had made another successful step, and that it would be only a matter of a day or two before the mass of Israelites would swing over to his side. As for his two hundred and fifty followers, they also left and went back to their various camps. Later, Moses and Aaron and the elders went to make certain that the people were not congregated around the homes of the three main offenders. They found their residence free of visitors, which was as God wanted it to be. Moses then warned them that because they persisted in a scheme to take over the government, God would cause the ground to open up and swallow them. (Verses 23-30.) Dathan and Abiram came out of their tents, along with their wives and children, to hear what more Moses had to say. "Now he's trying to threaten us with an earthquake," Dathan scornfully shouted to Abiram. "Can you think of anything more fantastic?" "I'll believe it only when it happens -- and maybe not even then," Abiram shouted back with a grin. Too Late to Repent! "We have given these men fair warning," Moses said to those with him. "Perhaps God would spare them if they would repent, but since they refuse to repent, it's obviously too late now. Let us leave here before something dreadful happens." Almost as soon as their backs were turned there was a growing rumble from within the Earth. The ground trembled, then heaved upward directly between the tents of Abiram and Dathan and the tent of Korah, which was close by in another camp! Chapter 42 "THE EARTH OPENED ITS MOUTH!" SCREAMING terrorized people of all three families -- Korah, Dathan and Abiram -- rushed wildly and aimlessly in all directions. Then the quivering mound of ground suddenly collapsed and fell back into a deep, yawning chasm! Tons of soil and rock slipped off the vertical sides of this horrifying hole and thundered down into dark oblivion, taking people, tents, animals and most everything that belonged to Korah, Dathan and Abiram. (Numbers 16:31-33 and 26:10.) It was as though a gigantic mouth had opened in the Earth's crust for the one purpose of swallowing the rebellious men and their possessions! ---end of excerpt--- The lesson is clear for us today. We should be immersed into the Word of God and His Salvation Process and never allow any type of a spirit of rebellion to creep into our minds. We should never seek to unseat those over us in the church because of envy, jealousy, pride or the desire for power and position. We should never allow anyone to gossip, murmur against nor tear down anyone in leadership. Korah was not just rebelling against Moses and Aaron but against God. Anyone today attempting to rebel against the leadership positions in the church, for those stated reasons and motivations would be doing the same.